Fighting Fake News: How Journalists Can Gain Society's Trust

As a new journalist, there have multiple instances throughout my career where peers have joked about how I’m entering the profession of fake news. Recently it seems as if society assumes that all journalists are associated with spreading false information, when it simply is not true.

While fake news continues to lurk around the internet, waiting for consumers to click and share, there are also tons of real stories out there - by real journalists.

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For journalists writing in today’s society where consumers of news tend to be more skeptical of what they read, it is important for journalists to not only connect with their audience, but to build trust with them.

One way for journalists to build trust with their audience is to be as transparent as possible. This can mean anything from telling their audience how the facts in the story were obtained to owning up to their mistakes. If their audience sees that the journalist is being open and honest throughout the entire process, they will be a lot more likely to build trust with their audience.

Another way journalists can gain trust and break down the fake news barrier is to be consistent with their stories. The more consistent and accurate the work that is put out by the journalist, the better their reputation will be. Consistency proves to the audience that the journalist can not only be trusted, but be a source the audience can continue to come back to.

Although it is important for readers to learn how to spot fake news themselves, it is also important for journalists to be transparent and consistent so their audiences grow to connect and trust in their work.